(a) General powers.--

(1) The board shall have general and sole regulatory authority over the conduct of gaming and related activities as described in this part. The board shall ensure the integrity of the acquisition and operation of slot machines, table games, table game devices and associated equipment and authorized interactive games and interactive gaming devices and associated equipment and shall have sole regulatory authority over every aspect of the authorization, operation and play of slot machines, table games and interactive gaming devices and associated equipment.

(2) The board shall employ individuals as necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the board, who shall serve at the board's pleasure. An employee of the board shall be considered a State employee for purposes of 71 Pa.C.S. Pt. XXV (relating to retirement for State employees and officers). For the purposes of this paragraph, the board shall not be considered an executive or independent agency under the act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the Commonwealth Attorneys Act. The board shall not take final action to fill any vacancy in the position of executive director of the board, director of the bureau, chief counsel of the board or director of the Office of Enforcement Counsel until receipt and review of the results of the individual's background investigation under section 1517(c)(1.1) (relating to investigations and enforcement).

(3) In addition to employees authorized by the board, each member may employ one special assistant whose classification and compensation shall be established by the board. A special assistant shall be a State employee for purposes of 71 Pa.C.S. Pt. XXV, shall serve at the pleasure of the member and may only be removed by the board for cause.

(4) The board shall establish a system of classification and compensation of its employees and shall not be subject to the provisions of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, as to classification and compensation for its employees and conduct its activities consistent with the practices and procedures of Commonwealth agencies.

(5) Within 90 days of the effective date of this paragraph, the board shall publish in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and on the board's Internet website the classification system for all employees of the board.

(6) A request for proposal to conduct investigations of employees and applicants under this part shall include a requirement that an offeror provide the number of employees of the offeror who will be engaged in the conduct of investigations and who are residents of this Commonwealth and annuitants of a Federal, State or local law enforcement agency. Preference shall be given to an offeror with a substantial number of employees who will be engaged in the conduct of investigations and who are residents of this Commonwealth and annuitants of a Federal, State or local law enforcement agency.

(b) Specific powers.--The board shall have the specific power and duty:

(1) To adopt, use and alter a corporate seal.

(2) To pay or satisfy obligations of the board.

(3) To sue or be sued, implead and be impleaded, or interplead.

(4) To contract and execute instruments as necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the board. Contracts for the purchase of supplies, services and construction shall be for a term not to exceed two years.

(5) To sell, transfer, convey and dispose of tangible or intangible property owned by the board.

(6) To establish, charge and collect fees and fines as authorized by this part.

(7) To administer oaths, examine witnesses and issue subpoenas compelling the attendance of witnesses or the production of documents and records or other evidence, or to designate officers or employees to perform these duties.

(8) To purchase insurance against a loss related to the board's property or assets.

(8.1) To retain attorneys, accountants, auditors and financial and other experts to render services as necessary. For the purposes of this paragraph, the board shall be considered an independent agency for purposes of the Commonwealth Attorneys Act.

(9) To require background investigations on applicants, licensees, principals, key employees or permittees under the jurisdiction of the board.

(10) To enter into an agreement with the Pennsylvania State Police for the reimbursement of actual costs as approved by the board to the Pennsylvania State Police for the investigations. Investigations shall include information in the possession of the Attorney General.

(11) For purposes of licensing and enforcement and for purposes of the background investigation, to receive information otherwise protected by 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 91 (relating to criminal history record information).

(12) At its discretion, to issue, approve, renew, revoke, suspend, condition or deny issuance or renewal of slot machine licenses.

(12.1) At its discretion, to award, revoke, suspend, condition or deny a table game operation certificate to a slot machine licensee in accordance with Chapter 13A (relating to table games).

(12.2) At its discretion, to award, revoke, suspend, condition or deny an interactive gaming certificate or an interactive gaming license in accordance with Chapter 13B (relating to interactive gaming).

(12.3) At its discretion, to award, revoke, suspend, condition or deny a casino simulcasting permit in accordance with Chapter 13F (relating to casino simulcasting).

(12.4) At its discretion, to award, revoke, suspend, condition or deny a sports wagering certificate in accordance with Chapter 13C (relating to sports wagering).

(13) At its discretion, to issue, approve, renew, revoke, suspend, condition or deny issuance or renewal of supplier and manufacturer licenses.

(14) At its discretion, to issue, approve, renew, revoke, suspend, condition or deny issuance or renewal of a license or permit for various classes of employees as required under this part.

(15) At its discretion, to issue, approve, renew, revoke, suspend, condition or deny issuance or renewal of any additional licenses or permits which may be required by the board under this part.

(16) At its discretion, to suspend, condition or deny the issuance or renewal of any license or permit or levy fines or other sanctions for any violation of this part.

(17) To require prospective and existing employees, independent contractors, applicants, licensees and permittees to submit to fingerprinting by the Pennsylvania State Police or an authorized agent of the Pennsylvania State Police. The Pennsylvania State Police or an authorized agent of the Pennsylvania State Police shall submit the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for purposes of verifying the identity of the individual and obtaining records of criminal arrests and convictions.

(18) To require prospective and existing employees, independent contractors, applicants, licensees and permittees to submit photographs consistent with the standards established by the board.

(19) To levy fines or other sanctions against an applicant, licensed entity or other licensee, permittee or employee of the board who possesses, uses, sells or offers for sale any device, equipment or material subject to this part in a manner which constitutes a violation of this part.

(20) In addition to the power of the board regarding license and permit applicants, to determine at its discretion the suitability of any person who furnishes or seeks to furnish to a slot machine licensee directly or indirectly any goods, services or property related to slot machines, table games, table game devices or associated equipment, interactive games and interactive gaming devices and associated equipment, casino simulcasting technology and equipment or sports wagering and sports wagering devices or through any arrangements under which that person receives payment based directly or indirectly on earnings, profits or receipts from the slot machines, table games, table game devices and associated equipment, interactive games, interactive gaming devices and associated equipment, casino simulcasting technology and equipment or sports wagering and sports wagering devices. The board may require any such person to comply with the requirements of this part and the regulations of the board and may prohibit the person from furnishing the goods, services or property except that, in determining the suitability of a person who furnishes or seeks to furnish casino simulcasting technology and equipment, the board shall consult the commission.

(21) Within six months after the effective date of this part, in a manner that does not impede the immediate implementation of the duties and responsibilities of the board under this part during the immediate two years after the effective date of this part, to develop and implement an affirmative action plan to assure that all persons are accorded equality of opportunity in employment and contracting by the board, its contractors, subcontractors, assignees, lessees, agents, vendors and suppliers.

(22) Except for contracts related to the central control computer, all contracts entered into by the board during the two-year period following the effective date of this part shall not exceed a term of two years.

(23) The board shall not approve an application for or issue or renew a license, certificate, registration or permit unless it is satisfied that the applicant has demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that the applicant is a person of good character, honesty and integrity and is a person whose prior activities, criminal record, if any, reputation, habits and associations do not pose a threat to the public interest or the effective regulation and control of slot machine operations, table game operations, interactive gaming operations, casino simulcasting or sports wagering, or create or enhance the danger of unsuitable, unfair or illegal practices, methods and activities in the conduct of slot machine operations, table game operations, interactive gaming operations, casino simulcasting or sports wagering or the carrying on of the business and financial arrangements incidental thereto.

(24) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, to sell, in whole or in part, the Commonwealth's right, title and interest in State gaming receipts to the authority. The sale shall be subject to the terms and conditions contained in agreements between the board and the authority. Proceeds from the sale of State gaming receipts shall be allocated and used in the manner otherwise provided by this part for the distribution of State gaming receipts. The authority is authorized to purchase State gaming receipts upon terms and conditions agreed to by the board and to issue bonds to fund the purchase of State gaming receipts in the manner provided for the issuance of authority indebtedness in the law establishing the authority. The State Treasurer is authorized and directed to enter into any agreements with the board and the authority and establish accounts and funds, that shall not be in the State Treasury, as the authority may direct as being necessary or appropriate to effect the sale of State gaming receipts to the authority and the collection and transfer of the State gaming receipts sold to the authority. State gaming receipts sold to the authority shall be the property of the authority and shall not be the property of the Commonwealth.

(25) To promulgate regulations pertaining to the operation of the bureau to insure separation of functions between the bureau and the board. The board shall provide the employees necessary to the bureau for enforcement of this part.

(26) To enter into an agreement with the district attorneys of the counties wherein licensed facilities are located and the Office of Attorney General for the reimbursement of actual costs for prosecutions of criminal violations and for investigating a person applying for a determination that an individual has been rehabilitated under this part.

(27) To publish each January in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and on the board's Internet website a complete list of all persons or entities who applied for or held a slot machine license, manufacturer license, supplier license or racetrack license at any time during the preceding calendar year and all affiliates, intermediaries, subsidiaries and holding companies thereof and the status of the application or license.

(27.1) To publish each January in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board's Internet website a complete list of all slot machine licensees who filed a petition seeking authorization to conduct table games and the status of each petition or table game operation certificate.

(27.2) Within six months of the effective date of this section, to publish on the board's publicly accessible Internet website a complete list of all slot machine licensees who filed a petition seeking authorization to conduct interactive gaming and the status of each petition or interactive gaming certificate.

(28) To prepare and, through the Governor, submit annually to the General Assembly an itemized budget consistent with Article VI of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, consisting of the amounts necessary to be appropriated by the General Assembly out of the accounts established under section 1401 (relating to slot machine licensee deposits) required to meet the obligations accruing during the fiscal period beginning July 1 of the following year. The budget shall include itemized recommendations for the Attorney General, the department and the Pennsylvania State Police as to the amount needed to meet their obligations under this part.

(29) In the event that, in any year, appropriations for the administration of this part are not enacted by June 30, any funds appropriated for the administration of this part which are unexpended, uncommitted and unencumbered at the end of a fiscal year shall remain available for expenditure by the board or other agency to which they were appropriated until the enactment of appropriation for the ensuing fiscal year.

(30) To promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the administration and enforcement of this part, including regulations in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and regulations relating to the sale and service of liquor and malt and brewed beverages by licensees. Except as provided in section 1203 (relating to temporary regulations), regulations shall be adopted pursuant to the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.769, No.240), referred to as the Commonwealth Documents Law, and the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the Regulatory Review Act.

(31) To collect and post information on its Internet website with sufficient detail to inform the public of each person with a controlling interest or ownership interest in an applicant for a slot machine license or a licensed gaming entity, or affiliate, intermediary, subsidiary or holding company of an applicant or licensed gaming entity. The posting shall include:

(i) If the applicant or licensed gaming entity, or any affiliate, intermediary, subsidiary or holding company of the applicant or licensed gaming entity, is a publicly traded domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity, the names of all persons with a controlling interest.

(ii) If the applicant or licensed gaming entity, or any affiliate, intermediary, subsidiary or holding company of the applicant or licensed gaming entity, is a privately held domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity, the names of all persons with an ownership interest equal to or greater than 1%.

(iii) The name of any person entitled to cast the vote of a person named under subparagraph (i) or (ii).

(iv) The names of all officers, directors and principals of the applicant or licensed gaming entity.

(32) To appoint a trustee as prescribed in section 1332 (relating to appointment of trustee).

(33) To adopt regulations governing the postemployment limitations and restrictions applicable to members and to employees of the board subject to section 1201(h)(13) (relating to Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board established). In developing these regulations, the board may consult with the State Ethics Commission, other governmental agencies and the disciplinary board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania regarding postemployment limitations and restrictions on members and employees of the board who are members of the Pennsylvania Bar.

(34) To review detailed site plans identifying a petitioner's proposed table game area within a licensed facility to determine the adequacy of the proposed internal and external security and proposed surveillance measures.

(35) To review detailed site plans identifying the interactive gaming restricted area or room where a slot machine licensee proposes to manage, administer or control interactive gaming operations to determine the adequacy of the proposed internal and external security and proposed surveillance measures.

(36) To require each slot machine licensee that holds an interactive gaming certificate to provide on a quarterly basis the following information with respect to interactive gaming:

(i) the name of any person, entity or firm to whom any payment, remuneration or other benefit or thing of value has been made or conferred for professional services, including, but not limited to, interactive gaming system operations or management, legal, consulting and lobbying services;

(ii) the amount or value of the payments, remuneration, benefit or thing of value;

(iii) the date on which the payments, remuneration, benefit or thing of value was submitted; and

(iv) the reason or purpose for the procurement of the services.

(37) To review and approve detailed site and architectural plans identifying the area of a licensed facility where a slot machine licensee proposes to place slot machines that are or will be used in a multistate wide-area progressive slot machine system, skill slot machines or hybrid slot machines or administer casino simulcasting and make them available for play in order to determine the adequacy of proposed internal and external controls, security and proposed surveillance measures.

(38) To conduct auctions under section 1305.2 (relating to conduct of auctions).

(Nov. 1, 2006, P.L.1243, No.135, eff. imd.; Jan. 7, 2010, P.L.1, No.1, eff. imd.; Oct. 30, 2017, P.L.419, No.42, eff. imd.)

2017 Amendment. Act 42 amended subsecs. (a)(1) and (b)(17), (18), (20) and (23) and added subsec. (b)(12.2), (12.3), (12.4), (27.2), (35), (36), (37) and (38).

2010 Amendment. Act 1 amended subsecs. (a)(1) and (2) and (b)(7), (20) and (23) and added subsec. (b)(12.1), (27.1), (31),(32), (33) and (34). See section 20(2) of Act 1 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to applicability.

Cross References. Section 1202 is referred to in sections 332, 1103, 1209, 1317.3, 1320, 13A41, 13B55, 1512, 1517, 4104 of this title.